…you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:26-28 NKJV

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This is part of Paul’s admonition to the Galatians as he instructs them on the merits of the law verses liberty in Christ Jesus. Seems that some were discouraging them in their faith, telling them that they needed to uphold the ritualistic, ceremonial rites of the law.

Examining the beginning of the letter to the Galatians, we see that Paul is astonished at how easily, and quickly, they had been removed from the liberty in which they had been living. Evidently, they had been enjoying that freedom for some time. We’re not sure how long, but long enough, however, that they should have been established to the degree that they could ward off anything that would “bewitch” them (Gal. 3:1). But, not so, as is evident in the letter. They were duped into accepting “another gospel” which, in effect, Paul says there is no such thing. The gospel of Christ Jesus that he himself had preached to them was the only gospel of the only Son of the only true and Living God. Only by faith is this gospel to be accepted. Only by faith CAN this gospel be accepted. Paul goes to extent of saying that even if angels were to come and preach to them “another gospel” they were to “be accursed (1:8).

Chapter 5:1 is the focal point of the letter: “Stand fast…in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free, and be entangled again with the yoke of bondage…”

Isn’t it is rather peculiar how some people are so bent on observing legalism that does not set them free but rather drags them back into the bondage from which they were delivered? Especially after they have been living in that freedom for a time, and should know better.

To qualify my remarks, let me say, that this is not a freedom from Scriptural principles, nor a license to sin, but a freedom in Christ to pursue a life of righteousness unto holiness.